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Thursday, December 20, 2007

talking shop

We like to give handmade gifts, usually made by Buddy in the workshop. This year we found some great handmade items, only without all the work!

On a recent visit to the Smokies, we met Fadi Giacaman, wood carver from Bethlehem, Israel. Giacaman traveled from Israel to Dollywood as a guest artist in the woodcarver shop there, to meet folks and sign his pieces of art and ornaments.

He and his family own and operate the world's largest olive wood factory and are recognized around the globe for their beautifully carved items. Every two years the olive trees are pruned so that they may bear fruit, and the carvings are made from wood produced during the pruning process.

We purchased several ornaments and other wood carvings for gifts. Buddy enjoyed talking shop with a fellow woodworker. It was entertaining to hear them conversing, both speaking English, but with very different heavy accents.

8 comments:

What a beautiful ornament that is! It looks like carvings that get done with cypress trees only on a much smaller scale. Do you know if he's left any work to be sold after he returns to Israel? Was he selling out of someone's shop or on the street? Let me Google him...